Unscrambler and spacer



June 17, 1952 M. H. BEHRENS UNSCRAMBLER AND SPACER Filed Ju ly 1, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 jIffl Eek/rem INVENTOR ATTORNEYS.

J1me 1952 M. H. BEHRENS UNSCRAMBLER AND SPACER 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 1, 1948 V jlziibeimerw INVENTOR ATTORNEYS June 17, 1952 M. H. BEHRENS 2,600,726

UNSCRAMBLER AND SPACER Filed July. 1, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 a; JlZZfiBekrem INVENTOR BY I I I 1 ATTORNEYS- June 17, 1952 M. H. BEHRENS UNSCRAMBLER AND SPACER 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 1, 1948 .ZZZJZ Bkram INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented June 17, 1.952

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFKIE 2,600,726, UnscaA' BLEa AND SPACER Maurice H. Behrens, Audubon, N. .L: Amman July 1, 1948, Serial No. 36,403

2 Claims. (01. 19s a) This invention relates to an apparatus ,designed primarily for use in food packing plants wherein canned or packaged fruits and vegetables are packed in cans, jars, bottles, etc., for shipment.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of this character which will arrange the empty containers, so thatwhen the empty containers are delivered to the packers, the empty containers may be conveniently filled or packed. I v

An important object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of this character which may be adjusted to adapt the device for use in handling containers of various sizes.

With the foregoing and other; objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of'certain novel details of construction and combinations of'p'arts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure l is a side elevational view of an unscrambler or spacer constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof. i

Fig. 13 is an end elevational view of the apparatus.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the bearing supporting bracket for the sprocket shaft at one end of the apparatus.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a fragmental perspective view illustrating the forward ends of the stop bars and guide fingers supported at their ends.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a shaft and bearing supporting bracket at one end of the apparatus.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the apparatus comprises a frame embodying upper and lower spaced longitudinal bars 5 and 6 respectively, which are connected at their ends .by means of the transverse'bar's 1 and vertical bars 8 and 9. Vertical bars in are disposed at one end of the frame of the apparatus and are spaced from the bars 9, providing a support for one end of an upper frame, the bars 9 and [0 being connected at their upper ends by means of the transverse bar H that is of a length to extend an appreciable distance beyond the vertical bar l0, where it provides a support. At opposite sides of the frame of the apparatus and disposed in spaced relation with respect to'the bars 9 and III, are vertical bars l2 arranged on opposite sides of the frame, the bars l2 extending an appreciable distance above the ends of the vertical bars 9 and I0,- as shown by Fig. 1 of the drawings.

In securing the bars together in'the' formation of the frame, thepreferred manner ofsecurin the bars together is by welding, wherein wide plates such as indi'catedat l3 and M are used at the ends of the various bars providingwide supporting surfaces towithstand severe-strain. Mounted within the frame is the variable speed motor [5, the shaft of which isprov-idedwith the sprocket l6 over which the chain I'T operates, the chain l'l also operating 'over'thesprocket 18 mounted on the shaft I 9 transmitting movement to the shaft [9. g I

Secured to the shaft I 9 is the sprooketl'll over which the chain 2| operates, which chain also operates over sprocket 22 secured to the shaft 23 of the apparatus. e

The sprocket 24 is secured to one end of the shaft 23 and accommodates thechain 25 that moves over the sprocket 26 secured to one end of the shaft 21 mounted in bearings ZBs'ecured to the upper portion of the frame of the apparatus. Secured to theshaft 21 is the'horizontal conveyor roller 29 over which the conveyor belt 30 operates the'conveyor 30 also operating over the conveyor roller 3| mounted atthe opposite end of the frame of theapparatus. The upper flight of the conveyor 30 moves over the horizontal supporting surface or table 32, which is supported on the transverse bars 33 that are secured to thebars '5, the bars 33 extending transversel'y of the bars 5.

The upper ends of the vertical bars i2 prcvide supports for the spaced guide bars 33 that are arranged in pairs, as clearly shown by-F'ig. 1 of the drawings. The bars l2 are formed with elongated openings 35 in which the bolts 36 operate, the bolts 36 being secured in threaded openings formed'in' the'bars 34, whereby the bars 34 may be adjusted vertically with respect to each other to adapt the device for use in sorting containers of various sizes.

At the front end of the frame of the apparatus, is the pinion 35 which is secured to the shaft 23, the pinion 35 meshing with the pinion 36 secured to the vertical shaft 31 that extends upwardly and passes through a bearing secured to bar II where it provides a support for the sprocket 38, which operates in a horizontal plane. At the opposite side of the frame, the sprocket 39, which also operates in a horizontal plane, the sprockets 38 and 39 accommodating the chain 40 which also moves over the idle sprocket 4l mounted on the adjustable arm 42, secured to the bar ll. Extending from the chain 40 are separating plates 43 that extend laterally from the chain in predetermined spaced relation with respect to each other, the chain 4!! and plates 43 moving transversely over the conveyor at one end thereof, as clearly shown by Fig. 2 of the drawings.

The spaced guide bars 34 at one side of the upper surface or table of the frame, provide supports for the curved guide fingers 44 that extend forwardly and in such spaced relation with respect to the chain that spaces are provided between the plates 43 and guide fingers 44' to permit but one can or container between adjacent plates 43 and fingers 44 as the chain operates and the plates 43 move. As clearly shown by Fig. 2 of the drawings the chain 48 moves between the horizontal guide bars 45 disposed at one end of the shaft, the guide bars being supported by means of the curved arms 46 and 47, the arm 41 being secured to the bar H, while the arm 46 extends upwardly from the supporting plate 48. The plate 48 also provides a' support for the bearing in which the shaft 49 of the sprocket 39, operates. openings 53 are formed in the plate 48 and accommodate the bolts 5| to permit of lateral adjustment of the plate 48 to pick up slack in the chain between the sprockets 38 and 39.

The plate 48 is also provided with a vertical arm 52 formed with openings 53 elongated vertically so that the plate 48 may be adjusted vertically to properly align the chain 40. Adjacent to the forward end of the apparatus and arranged at one side thereof, is a wide plate 54 that supports one end of the endless conveyor 55, which is so arranged that when containers are released from spaces between adjacent separating plates 43, the containers will be delivered to the endless conveyor 55 in a single row and spaced apart so that they may be readily filled or packed without removing them from the conveyor and continue on to the following operation such as juicing, capping, washing and labeling.

In mounting the conveyor 55 it is contemplated to use a pivoted bracket such as indicated at 55, the bracket supporting the conveyor roll 5'1, which the conveyor 55 operates.

Thus it will be seen that the conveyor 55 maybe adjusted to various angular positions for the convenience of the packers using the apparatus.

From the foregoing it will be seen that due to the constructionshown and described, I have provided an unscrambling and spacer apparatus wherein empty containers such as cans, jars, bottles, etc., may be deposited on one end of the conveyor 30 in an upright position, the articles moving forwardly where they find their way into the spaces between adjacent plates 43. Since the plates 43 move laterally of the conveyor 35, it is obvious that they will be de- Elongated posited on the conveyor 55 in an upright position and spaced apart where they may be conveniently filled or packed by the packer.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is:

1. An apparatus for unscrambling and spacing containers for packing, comprising a frame, a conveyor belt operating in a horizontal plane, mounted on the frame and onto which containers to be packed are delivered in a scrambled condition, an operating chain operating directly over said conveyor belt at the discharge end thereof, and operating at right angles to the conveyor belt, said operating chain extending beyond the side edges of the conveyor belt, spaced vertical separating plates having one of their respective ends secured to the chain, extending laterally therefrom providing spaces within which the containers move, said plates providing pushers for pushing the containers laterally from the conveyor belt, and an endless horizontally movable conveyor belt operating at one side of the first mentioned conveyor belt at the discharge end thereof onto which the containers are delivered and carried from the frame, and a pair of curved spring fingers vertically spaced, extending laterally from said frame at one end thereof, against which said containers move directing said containers laterally onto said horizontally movable conveyor belt.

2. An apparatus for unscrambling and spacing containers for packing, comprising a frame, spaced vertically adjustable guide bars extending longitudinally of the frame along the side edges of the frame, a main conveyor belt operating in a horizontal plane, mounted on the frame between said guide bars at the sides of the frame and onto which containers to be packed are delivered, a separating chain disposed directly over said conveyor belt at the discharge end thereof, and operating at right angles to the main conveyor belt, said operating chain extending beyond one side edge of the main conveyor belt, spaced members on the chain between which containers positioned on the main conveyor belt are fed, curved fingers mounted adjacent to the discharge end of the main conveyor belt, and secured to the spaced guide bars, said fingers cooperating with the operating chain in directing containers laterally of the main conveyor, and an endless conveyor operating in parallel relation with the main conveyor at the discharge end of the main conveyor, onto which containers are directed by said curved fingers.

MAURICE H. BEHRENS.

CES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 724,240 Baker Mar. 31, 1903 1,339,834 Stender May 11, 1920 1,612,215 Phelps Dec. 28, 1926 1,898,393 Rickers Feb. 21; 1933 

